Updated June 25, 2018
Understanding and navigating pain management is a core component of hospice care. Indeed, the very philosophy of hospice care subscribes to the belief that people have the right to live as pain-free and comfortable as possible during their end-of-life. A majority of patients and their families/caregivers tend to hope and expect that hospice care teams will be completely devoted to ensuring pain relief.
At Alliance Hospice, an entire team of compassionate experts work closely with families and their loved ones to create and individualize an overall plan of care, integrated with pain management. A medical director oversees the medical plan of care and coordinates the hospice team, with ongoing input from the patient’s original physician focused on the medical aspect of the full course of treatment.
Alliance Hospice nurses provide palliative care with complete devotion, and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The nurses’ palliative care is nurturing in nature, committed to pain relief and comfort. In coordination with the patient’s physician, the nurses help determine what the most effective treatments and medications are for each patient to address both pain and symptoms. The nurses also regularly communicate with the patient’s family and caregivers to inform them of ways to help minimize their loved ones’ pain and provide as much loving support as possible.
It’s important to note that from a legal standpoint, hospices are required by federal guidelines to control patients’ pain through every reasonable effort, and many state laws also require hospices to ensure that pain management is prioritized as an integral aspect of hospice care.
About the Author
Bruce Dalglish has served as the Chairman and CEO of Alliance Hospice and All Caring Hospice since 2005. In this role, Bruce Dalglish oversees the development and strategic direction of both companies. From 2008 – 2013, Bruce Dalglish served on the Public Policy Committee of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO).
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Disclaimer: Blogs by R. Bruce Dalglish provide educational information, not medical advice. Please consult with your medical providers when making end-of-life care decisions.